Meet the Ambassador
If the word ambassador conjures images of cocktail parties, dinner jackets and milk chocolate, think again! The only thing on Chris Sainty´s mind is Brexit! Sophie Sadler talks to the British Ambassador to Portugal, in an exclusive interview.
As I arrive at the Camâra building in Albufeira all anyone is talking about is the incredible drama playing out in Westminster where the supreme court has just ruled that the government´s proroguing of parliament was unlawful. Political reality has become more surreal and dramatic than most imagined political TV shows.
I am here to meet British ambassador Chris Sainty who took up his post in September 2018. If only I could ask him what he thinks of all this but of course as a civil servant, he is politically neutral and does not comment on political decisions. He does, however, talk extremely frankly on his role as ambassador and he is extremely open and friendly and keen to engage with the community.
What is your main role as ambassador?
To promote British interests in Portugal, but this also covers making sure we have a good and productive political relationship as well as managing economic, commercial and business relationships. For example, I work on behalf of British companies wanting to export to Portugal, or Portuguese companies wishing to invest in the UK.
This also includes cultural relations and Portugal and the UK have many Educational links with research, universities and science.
Of course currently, a lot of my time is taken up trying to get successfully through this Brexit episode. The most important part of that is putting in place the strongest possible protection of the rights of the British community here and that has been my top priority for the last 12 months.
How do you serve the interests of the British population in Portugal?
We do that in various ways. Outreach to the community, coming to Algarve as I have done on this trip. Meeting representatives from the British community, offering advice and trying to answer questions about what is going to happen when we leave the EU
Everything I hear I replay to the Portuguese authorities and British government in London to ensure that the voice of British ex-pats in PT is being heard.
Which entities of government do you work most closely with?
I serve the whole government so I am in contact with all different bits of Whitehall, but my parent department is the foreign office. There is a special department in gove being set up to negotiate an exit from the EU and I spend a lot of time doing business directly with them.
I talk to all elements of the Portuguese government as well, so on questions relating to British community interests in Portugal and Brexit, I deal most regularly with the Portuguese foreign ministry including the foreign minister, high ranking officials and the secretary of state.
I talk to the interior ministry about residency rights, the transport ministry about driving licenses and the health ministry about issues of health care.
How did you become an ambassador?
To become an ambassador is part of the British diplomatic career, I joined diplomatic service in 1989 and worked my way up and this is my first job as an ambassador.
What do the Portuguese officials all think about Brexit?
Generally speaking, I think people are sad, they are sorry to see Britain leaving the EU but they understand and respect that there was a democratic decision in 2016 made by the British population and that they are doing their best to facilitate that. Their priority is that if we are going to leave is is done in such a way that it doesn´t disrupt the good relations between the two countries and to ensure that Portuguese and British companies can continue to do business together easily after we left.
It is also important to the Portuguese government that a large number of Portuguese citizens living in the UK have their rights protected and we have given these guarantees. In return, the Portuguese government have given very strong guarantees to the British population living in Portugal.
We are in a good place with all of that but at the same time, I understand that people are concerned about the future.
How worried should we be about the prospect of a No Deal?
There is no doubt that the best way to ensure a smooth exit would be a deal. This would offer the best continuity for citizens living in each other's communities. With a deal, the rights of British citizens living in Portugal would be protected by an international treaty. This is definitely the best scenario.
But as the prime minister has pointed out we have to be prepared for the possibility of no deal.
In this case, the British here in Portugal are very fortunate. The Portuguese government have been very clear in public and to me that they are determined to protect the rights of British citizens living in Portugal. We know that is true as back in March parliament passed a law which said even if the UK leaves without a deal, British rights such as residency, health care and driving licenses, will continue to be protected in the future.
British people in Portugal are fortunate as they have more assurances than many British ex-pats in other EU countries, that whatever the outcome they can be very confident that their residency rights will be properly protected.
What about people who may wish to move from Britain to Portugal after Britain leaves the EU?
There is no doubt after we leave things will be different for those wanting to come and live here after the date we leave one of the consequences will be that free movement rules will change and there will be new arrangements in place. We don´t know what they will look like but it is probably safe to say that British people with not automatically have the right to come and live in Portugal.
Equally, Portuguese citizens won´t automatically be allowed to live in the UK there will be new rules surrounding this.
What is being done to protect tourism which is the livelihood of many in the Algarve?
Both sides want British people to keep coming here on holiday. From what I see planning is being put in place by the Portuguese tourism department to make sure people continue to come here post-Brexit. They are determined to continue to attract large numbers of British tourists as it is good for their economy and to make sure there will not be long queues at passport desks.
What are you doing to help British ex-pats who can´t get an appointment with SEF?
I know that people do get frustrated and worried if they can´t renew their residencies.
We talk a lot to SEF and in our meetings with the British community yesterday in Faro and today in Albufeira they sent a representative to address concerns.
As far as I am aware SEF does have resourcing issues, this is not because of Brexit. There has been a big increase in people of all nationalities wishing to move to Portugal and this has put a lot of pressure on the organisation.
SEF would be the first to admit that they are having difficulties allocating appointments to everyone who needs them.
But the reassuring thing is that SEF has told me that if you are in this position if you can´t get an appointment until after your card has expired you are not going to lose the right to live in Portugal.
That right is yours by virtue of EU and Portuguese law and I hope that is reassuring to people.
The other thing that is important is that ever since I arrived here and the embassy has been encouraging every British person living here to get your residency. But in recognition of the problems, SEF is having even if we leave on 31st October they will allow a grace period for people to register until the end of 2020.
That is very good news so people need not be worried if they can´t get an appointment before the end of October but our advice would still be to get on and do it as quickly as you can.
Do people risk being deported in they don´t become a Resident?
I think it is unlikely but you will save yourself an awful lot of hassle in the future, after all, it is a legal requirement if you live here more than three months to register as a resident so we would very strongly recommend that people do this.
Get on with it, get the piece of paper then you have the certainty that your rights will be protected.
Will British people living abroad lose any of their health care benefits when we leave the EU?
British people living in Portugal are lucky in that your right to access the health service comes with your residency. And this won´t change after we leave the EU.
People coming on holiday should have ehic card but that doesn´t cover everything.
If we leave with a deal then ehic will still be valid for a period of time. If we leave without a deal there is a question mark but we are having a conversation with the Portuguese government to see if we can come to an arrangement about whether this scheme will continue but this is an area of uncertainty.
The best way for visitors to Portugal to mitigate this uncertainty is to take out personal travel insurance.
Can you give us any more information on the new Residency Cards?
There is a programme in progress to replace the cardboard SEF issued card, with a laminated more modern issue. Some people will have new ones and others not. The embassy has discussed this with SEF and there is again nothing to worry about.
Your existing card will not become invalid and if you have the old card you will not lose any rights.
Will the relationship between Portugal and Britain change post Brexit?
I actually think it will get stronger. There is a very old friendship between Britain and Portugal and that is partly why it is such an honour and privilege to be ambassador here. There is a strong historical foundation for our partnership. This Brexit episode is complex and has implications for our relationship with Portugal, but it seems to me that what we need to do is look beyond Brexit and think in the most creative and optimistic ways we can about what a strong future relationship between the UK and Portugal with the UK outside the EU, looks like.
I think there is a lot of potential there. We already work very closely with Portugal on the international stage. We have coordinated very closely with the Portuguese on climate change initiatives which were recently launched in New York a the UN. I wish to see a lot more of this in the future.
The total volume of trade between the two countries is still rising despite the fact we are leaving the EU. We need to make sure this continues.
I see an increasing appetite of part of British companies to export and trade with Portugal.
How long do you intend to live in Portugal?
Generally, most ambassadors serve a term of between three and five years in the post then move on.
Where do you live and do you live with your family?
My wife and I live in a residence in Lisbon that comes with the job but before people get too jealous, it is used for lots of conferences, events and receptions.
I have three children, two have just graduated Uni and live in the UK but are regular visitors to Lisbon. My youngest daughter who is 19 has just started at Edinburgh University.
What do you love most about PT?
It is a great country, beautiful and of course a lovely climate. I am also very fond of Portuguese food so all of these things are a pleasure but for me, the thing that makes it such an enjoyable and rewarding place to live and work are the Portuguese people. We have such a strong and historic bond and you feel this in your personal interactions with the Portuguese and that is why it feels such a privilege to live here. There is a very powerful sense of ancient friendship.
I enjoy the fact that the good weather means I can cycle to work, there is one very steep hill which keeps me in shape and at the same time saves some co2 emissions!
